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The inspiration behind their formation was Stuart Crawford WARDELL- the Colliery Manager and Dr W.A. STAMFORD (Colliery doctor) The photograph was taken on their return as their departure was in smaller groups not en masse. We have now identified all the 15 men but apart from Arthur ENGLAND have not yet got a positive id on the others. Formed after their first classes in 1871, they won a silver medal at the International Health Exhibition in 1884 for their sprung pit tub for transporting injured miners underground and even had a Royal review by Queen Victoria in 1893 in Windsor. Several men went on to give further service in World War 1
The other 7 men were members of the Ambulance Corps but served as reservist soldiers. One known to us Robert MOAKES was killed at Diamond Hill. We are still working on the rest. The medals of W.A.GREENWOOD and J.TODD have both now been sold to private collectors but two weeks ago we were privileged to view those of one of the Boer War volunteers still held by his family.

Robert Fletcher Moakes, of the 1st Battalion Derbyshire Regiment, was wounded by a shell at Diamond Hill, on June 12th, 1900, and died two days later, aged 29. He left a wife and son - Robert Moakes, who was born the day before his father landed in South Africa - living in Tibshelf. I had a look round the local churchyard, but couldn't see any Moakes headstones, so perhaps his widow remarried or moved away.

As Tibshelf's ABW memorial (the church clock) is partly dedicated to "those who have fallen in the war," Moakes is included in that dedication.

That fact is little known and respected in our village, hence our current project. We are anxious to identify the Boer War volunteers from Tibshalf SJAB and although the photograph shows 15, we have recently confirmed the id of a second tier volunteer despatched in the Spring of 1901, (after the photograph was taken) so there may be others. Anybody got any of the Tibshelf SJAB medals in their collection? We are keen to trace them and know of some still in family ownership. We are also collating records of the disposition and postings in South Africa.
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We also have a brass plaque inside the church in memorial of those men who lost their lives in the SA wars but only know of Lt MOAKES so far. J.KIDDY who served as a telegraph officer with B-P at Mafeking also had Tibshelf connections though not a resident.

The one time I went to Tibshelf, the church wasn't open, but it was mid-week.

Ivan, the few names I have are probably no different to anyone else's research: - Corporal Stokes, 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment.
....Tibshelf and Newton Ambulance men: - Privates E. Ward and J. Scott left Tibshelf on 9th April 1900, making a total of 8 men of the Tibshelf Ambulance Corps at that point who were either in or on their way to South Africa.
....Private Arthur England went out c.February 1900.

Birchwood St. John Ambulance Corps - five Birchwood men left on 7th May 1900. Thomas Inskip and Richard W. Taylor, left 20th June 1900, making it a total of ten men from Birchwood at that point.

Diamond Hill, South Africa [Grave Marker of Private R. Moakes nr 2856]